Window suspension for vehicle soft top

ABSTRACT

A system for suspending a rigid panel in an opening formed in a barrier structure comprises a sleeve of flexible material having an anchor portion attachable to the perimeter of the opening and a grip portion opposite the anchor portion. The grip portion is contoured so as to form a channel disposed between an anterior extension and a posterior extension of the grip portion. Each of the anterior extension and the posterior extension comprises a fold of the flexible material having an apex at its inner end. A first elongated tensioning member received within the apex of the anterior extension and a second elongated tensioning member received within the apex of the posterior extension. The edges of the panel are received within the channel and the first and second elongated tensioners may be made sufficiently taut to prevent easy removal of the panel from the channel.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.10/967,653, filed Oct. 18, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,356, titledWINDOW SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLE SOFT TOP, which is a continuation of priorapplication Ser. No. 10/414,246 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,937), filedApr. 15, 2003, titled WINDOW SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLE SOFT TOP, which is acontinuation of prior application Ser. No. 10/016,480 (now U.S. Pat. No.6,546,988), filed Oct. 30, 2001, titled WINDOW SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLESOFT TOP, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/592,631(now U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,223), filed Jun. 13, 2000, titled WINDOWSUSPENSION FOR VEHICLE SOFT TOP. The entire contents of each of theabove-noted patents and prior applications are hereby incorporated byreference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to soft or folding structuresand more particularly to a device and method for securely attaching arigid panel or window to a vehicle soft top or other similar structure.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the construction of soft convertible tops for automobiles or othervehicles such as boats or in the construction of “soft” staticstructures such as tents, it is often necessary to attach a window madeof glass or other rigid material such as Plexiglas to a main structureof fabric or some other flexible material. It is currently known to usegluing or other substantially permanent techniques to attach the windowdirectly to the soft top. Another known technique is to provide a metalframe to hold the window and then glue the metal frame to the soft top.These methods have certain limitations in that replacement of the entiretop is often required when the window either breaks or works loose fromits position in the top over the years, as the top is raised and loweredmany times. Replacement of a window when using currently known mountingtechniques is thus frequently time consuming, expensive, and wasteful.In addition, currently known window mountings do not permit the user totighten the mounting to better secure and/or seal a loosened window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, there isprovided a system for suspending a rigid panel in an opening formed in abarrier structure. The system comprises a sleeve of flexible materialhaving an anchor portion attachable to the perimeter of the opening anda grip portion opposite the anchor portion. The grip portion iscontoured so as to form a channel disposed between an anterior extensionand posterior extension of the grip portion. Each of the anteriorextension and the posterior extension comprises a fold of the flexiblematerial having an apex at its inner end. A first elongated tensioningmember received within the apex of the anterior extension and a secondelongated tensioning member is received within the apex of the posteriorextension. The edges of the panel are receivable within the channel andthe first and second elongated tensioning members may be madesufficiently taut to prevent easy removal of the panel from the channel.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, thereis provided a barrier structure which comprises a generally flexiblewall having an opening, a sleeve of flexible material having an anchorportion attached to the perimeter of the opening and grip portionopposite the anchor portion. The grip portion is contoured so as to forma channel disposed between an anterior extension and a posteriorextension of the grip portion. Each of the anterior extension and theposterior extension comprises a fold of the flexible material having anapex at its inner end, a first elongated tensioning member receivedwithin the apex of the anterior extension and a second elongatedtensioning member received within the apex of the posterior extension.The barrier structure also has a panel structure. The edges of the panelstructure are received within the channel and the first and secondelongated tensioning members are sufficiently taut to prevent easyremoval of the panel structure from the channel.

In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the invention,there is provided a method for suspending a rigid panel in a barrierstructure. The method comprises the steps of attaching an anchor portionof a sleeve of flexible material to the perimeter of the opening. Thesleeve also has a grip portion opposite the anchor portion. The gripportion is contoured so as to form a channel disposed between ananterior extension and a posterior extension of the grip portion. Eachof the anterior extension and the posterior extension comprises a foldof the flexible material having an apex at its inner end. The methodalso comprises providing a first elongated tensioning member within theapex of the anterior extension and a second elongated tensioning memberwithin the apex of the posterior extension, placing the panel inrelation to the sleeve such that the edges of the panel are receivedwithin the channel, and tensioning the first and second elongatedmembers sufficiently to prevent easy removal of the panel from thechannel.

For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achievedover the prior art, certain objects and advantages of the invention havebeen described hereinabove. Of course it is to be understood that notnecessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordancewith any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example oneskilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied orcarried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage orgroup of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otherobjects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

All these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of theinvention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the presentinvention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following description of the preferred embodiments having referenceto the attached figures. The invention not being limited to anyparticular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus summarized the general nature of the invention and itsessential features and advantages, certain preferred embodiments andmodifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the detailed description here and having reference to the figuresthat follow, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle having a soft convertible topemploying a window suspension in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a soft side portion employing awindow suspension in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of another soft top portion employing awindow suspension in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4A is a cross-section view of a window suspension in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 4B is a detailed view of the cross section of the window gripportion of the window suspension;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a first type of tensioning device used withthe window suspension; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a quick release tensioner for use with thewindow suspension.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The system of the present invention will be described and its useexemplified in the context of an automotive soft top as illustrated inFIG. 1. The system is particularly desirable for convertible automotivetops. It will be understood, however, that the invention described andclaimed herein may be used in connection with many types of barrierstructures having at least one “soft” portion including, but not limitedto, soft tops for boats, folding travel trailers, tents, porchcoverings, and the like. Consequently the description which followsshould not be considered as limited only to automobiles.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 20 having a soft top or convertible top 22enclosing the passenger area. Typically, the soft top 22 may be foldedinto or deployed on the vehicle 20 either by hand or an automatedmechanism (not shown). When in the deployed or erected position as shownin FIG. 1, the soft top 22 serves as a weatherproof enclosure for thevehicle's passengers, fulfilling substantially the same role as a steelhard top. However the soft top, being retractable or removable, enablesthe vehicle user to select between an open and an enclosed vehicle atany time. The soft top 22 is generally constructed of canvas, leather,rubber or some other relatively lightweight, durable, flexible material.

The soft top 22 usually has a number of windows 24. The windows 24 areusually constructed of a soft flexible material such as clear vinyl, butfor best optical performance the windows 24 usually comprise a generallyflat panel of a rigid material such as safety glass, Lexan or Plexiglas.As seen in FIG. 1, the vehicle 20 may have one or more removable doors26 which have a soft side portion 28 constructed from a flexiblematerial similar to that used to make the soft top 22. The soft sideportion 28 also mounts a window 24 and can make the removable door 26lighter and easier to handle. Furthermore, the soft side portion 28(together with its window 24) may itself be removable from the door 26or folded down as a further option for providing an open passengercompartment for the vehicle 20.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4A and 4B show a preferred embodiment of a window suspension30 which may be used to mount the window 24 in the soft side portion 28.However, it will be appreciated that the suspension 30 can be used tomount the window in other portions of the soft top 22, such as the rearor even on the roof. The window suspension 30 comprises a window grip32, preferably formed from a flexible, durable material such as canvasor other high-strength fabric, which surrounds the perimeter of thewindow 24 and holds the edges of the window 24 between two layers orextensions 52, 54 (best seen in FIG. 4B). Each extension 52, 54comprises a fold of the material making up the grip 32, and forms anapex 64 at an inner edge 34, opposite an outer edge 36 of the grip 32. Acable 38, made of stainless steel, nylon, kevlar, or other suitablematerial, is disposed within each extension 52, 54 of the window grip 32near the apex 64. Each cable 38 is tensioned by use of a turnbuckle 40or some other tensioning device, and applies tension to the inner edge34 of the grip 32 in a manner which tends to contract the perimeter ofthe grip 32 at the inner edge 34, i.e. in the manner of a drawstring.Thus, under the tension of the cables 38 each extension 52, 54 is drawntightly against the corresponding face of the window 24, the edges ofwhich are thereby firmly retained between the extensions 52, 54.

A cover flap 42 is provided to permit selective access to the turnbuckle40 as seen in FIG. 3. When the turnbuckle 40 is not in use, the end ofthe cover flap 42 may be tucked under the window grip 32 so as topromote a neat appearance for the window suspension 30. In addition, thewindow grip 32 may have a series of cutouts 44 at its corners tofacilitate proper attachment of the grip 32 to the soft side portion 28or other part of the soft top 22. To permit accumulated moisture todrain from the window grip 32 a number of drain holes 45 may be cut intothe either of the extensions 52, 54.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a cross-section of the window suspension system 30along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3. The window grip 32 has a grip portion 46which receives the window 24 as described above, an anchor portion 48which is bonded to the soft side portion 28 or any other part of thesoft top 22 by stitching, gluing, or other suitable attachment. As bestseen in FIG. 4B, the window grip 32 is preferably formed from a sleeve50 of the window grip material which is folded back upon itself severaltimes to form an anterior extension 52 and a posterior extension 54. Thetwo extensions form a channel 56 therebetween, that receives the edgesof the window 24. Thus the anchor portion 48 and the grip portion 46 ofthe window grip 32 attain a Y-shaped cross section suitable for holdingthe window 24 and attaching to the soft top 22. To retain this Yconfiguration, the window grip 32 is preferably bonded, by stitching,gluing, or other suitable techniques, at an anchor bond 58 on the anchorportion 48, and an anterior bond 60 and a posterior bond 62 on theanterior and posterior extensions 52, 54, respectively. Thus bonded, thewindow grip 32 will maintain its shape (especially as regards therelative lengths of the extensions 52, 54) if the cables 38 are unevenlytensioned with respect to each other, as is often the case whenreplacing the window 24. A gasket 65 of rubber or other suitablematerial may be placed between the window 24 and the window grip 32 toprovide a substantially weatherproof, fluid-tight seal.

FIG. 5 shows the preferred arrangement of the cable 38, turnbuckle 40and cover flap 42 in greater detail. The cable 38 may be attached toeither end of the turnbuckle 40 via a loop 66 that is formed at eitherend of the cable and fastened with a cable crimp 68. A screw 70 or othersuitable fastener may be used to connect the loop 66 to either end ofthe turnbuckle 40. Alternatively, the cable can be crimped directly intoeither end of the turnbuckle 40. With the cable 38 connected to bothends of the turnbuckle 40, the user can tighten or loosen the cable byoperating the main bolt 71 of the turnbuckle 40 to draw the ends of theturnbuckle 40 together or push them apart. Thus the turnbuckle 40 issuitable for removing/replacing the window 24 entirely, or tighteningthe cable 38 and grip 32 as needed from time to time. The cover flap 42lays over the turnbuckle 40 and may be tucked under the grip portion orthe window grip 32 to promote a neat appearance.

FIG. 6 shows a quick release tensioner 72 which may be used as analternative to the turnbuckle 40, for applying tension to the cable 38.The quick release tensioner 72 preferably has a generally rigid base 74having a cable attachment 76 at one end and a hinge support 78 oppositethe cable attachment 76. The hinge support 78 cooperates with an axle 80to pivotally attach a quick release lever 82 to the base 74. The quickrelease lever 82 may rotate as necessary on the axle 80 between aloosened position A and a tensioned position B against the base 74, inthe direction marked by the arrow C. The cable 38 is attached to thequick release lever 82 at a point 84 between the axle 80 and the end ofthe quick release lever 82. When the user rotates the quick releaselever 82 from the loosened position A to the tensioned position B, thecable 38 is stretched by a tension distance D, applying the necessarytension to the cable 38. The tension in the cable 38 holds the quickrelease lever 82 in the tensioned position B against the base 74, as inthe tensioned position B the attachment point 84 of the cable 38 islocated on a side of the axle 80 adjacent the base 74. This arrangementof the attachment point 84 and axle 80 causes the quick release handleto press firmly against the base 74 under a tension F in the cable 38.To permit occasional tightening of the cable 38 and grip 32, the cableattachment 76 may comprise a threaded fitting that allows lateralmovement of an endpoint of the cable 38 as is done at either end of theturnbuckle 40.

As described above the suspension system permits quick, easy mounting orreplacement of a window 24 in the soft top 22. To replace the window 24,the user operates the turnbuckle 40, quick release tensioner 72, orother tensioning device to loosen one or both of the cables 38. Uponloosening the cable(s) 38, one or both of the extensions 52, 54 becomessufficiently slack to permit easy removal of the edges of the window 24from the channel 56 between the extensions. After removing the originalwindow 24, the user can then place a second window in the channel 56 andapply a tension to the cable(s) 38 by using any of the tensioningdevices detailed above, to securely retain the window in the grip 32.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is notlimited to the mounting of windows in a “soft” barrier structure.Rather, the invention is equally useful for mounting many othersubstantially flat, rigid panel-like structures, such as a screen or asheet of clear vinyl having a substantially rigid perimeter frame, or anopaque or translucent decorative or protective panel made of stiffplastic, stained glass, wood, metal, or the like.

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present inventionherein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosedembodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fairreading of the claims that follow.

1. A window suspension system comprising: a generally planar panelhaving an outer edge; a perimeter channel receiving at least a portionof said outer edge of said panel, said channel defined by opposed firstand second channel members, each of said first and second channelmembers having an inner edge spaced inward from said outer edge of saidpanel; a first drawstring member disposed in and extending generallyalong said first channel member; and a second drawstring member disposedin and extending generally along said second channel member; and whereinsaid first drawstring-like member is sufficiently taut to create agenerally inwardly-directed tension in said first channel member.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein at least part of an outer portion of saidchannel wraps around said outer edge of said panel.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein said outer portion of said channel conforms closely tosaid outer edge of said panel.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein saidplanar panel comprises a window pane.
 5. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a first tensioner connected to said first drawstring member,said first tensioner configured to hold said first drawstring-likemember taut.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said first tensioner isdisposed in said first channel member.
 7. The system of claim 1, whereinsaid first drawstring member is non-rigid.
 8. A vehicle windowsuspension system comprising: a vehicle window having an outer edge; awindow grip receiving at least a portion of said outer edge of saidvehicle window, said window grip having first and second grip memberssituated on opposite sides of said window, each of said first and secondgrip members having an inner edge spaced inward from said outer edge ofsaid window; a first drawcord disposed in said first grip member; and asecond drawcord disposed in said second grip member; wherein said firstdrawcord is sufficiently taut to create a generally inwardly-directedtension in said first grip member.
 9. The system of claim 8, whereinsaid second drawcord is sufficiently taut to create a generallyinwardly-directed tension in said second grip member.
 10. The system ofclaim 8, wherein said window grip has a portion that wraps around saidouter edge of said window.
 11. The system of claim 8, further comprisinga first tie member connected to said first drawcord, said first tiemember configured to hold said first drawcord taut.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, further comprising a first tie member connected to said firstdrawcord, said first tie member configured to hold said first drawcordtaut.
 13. The system of claim 8, wherein said first drawcord isnon-rigid.
 14. A window suspension system comprising: a generally planarpanel having an outer edge; a window grip receiving at least a portionof said outer edge of said panel, said window grip having first andsecond grip members situated on opposite sides of said panel, each ofsaid first and second grip members having an inner edge spaced inwardfrom said outer edge of said panel; said first grip member having afirst inner edge which can be drawn inward by a first cord disposed insaid first grip member; said second grip member having a second inneredge which can be drawn inward by a second cord disposed in said secondgrip member.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said first cord issufficiently taut to create a generally inwardly-directed tension insaid first grip member.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said secondcord is sufficiently taut to create a generally inwardly-directedtension in said second grip member.
 17. The system of claim 14, furthercomprising a first tie member connected to said first cord, said firsttie member configured to hold said first cord taut.
 18. The system ofclaim 17, further comprising a second tie member connected to saidsecond cord, said second tie member configured to hold said second cordtaut.
 19. The system of claim 14, wherein said window grip has a portionthat wraps around said outer edge of said panel.
 20. The system of claim14, wherein said first cord is non-rigid.